olice have to bring him here."

"As I was saying, I didn't see him at the mill, Mr. Puddleham,
because I didn't go in; but he's working there at this moment, and
has been all the day. He's all right, Mr. Puddleham. You go and have
a few words with him, or with his father, and you'll find they're
quite comfortable at the mill now."

"Constable Hicks told me that he was out of the country," said Mr.
Puddleham, walking away in considerable disgust.

Mrs. Fenwick's opinion was, upon the whole, rather in favour of the
second expedition to Pycroft Common, as she declared that the mother
should at any rate be allowed to see her child. She indeed would not
submit to the idea of the miller's indomitable powers. If she were
Mrs. Brattle, she said, she'd pull the old man's ears, and make him
give way.

"You go and try," said the Vicar.

On the Sunday morning following, Fanny was told that on Wednesday
Mr. Fenwick would drive her mother over to Pycroft Common. He had no
doubt, he said, but that Carry would still be found living with Mrs.
Burrows. He explained that the old woman had luckily been absent
during his visit, but would probably be there when they went again.
As to that they must take their chance. And the whole plan was
arranged. Mr. Fenwick was to be on the road in his gig at Mr.
Gilmore's gate at ten o'clock, and Mrs. Brattle was to meet him there
at that hour.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

MRS. BRATTLE'S JOURNEY.

[Illustration]

Mrs. Brattle was waiting at the stile opposite to Mr. Gilmore's gate
as Mr. Fenwick drove up to the spot. No doubt the dear old woman
had been there for the last half-hour, thinking that the walk would
take her twice as long as it did, and fearing that she might keep
the Vicar waiting. She had put on her Sunday clothes and her Sunday
bonnet, and when she climbed up into the vacant place beside her
friend she found her position to be so strange that for a while she
could hardly speak. He said a few words to her, but pressed her with
no questions, understanding the cause of her embarrassment. He could
not but think that of all his parishioners no two were so unlike
each other as were the miller and his wife. The one was so hard and
invincible;--the other so soft and submissive! Nevertheless it had
always been said that Brattle had been a tender and affectionate
husband. By degrees the woman's awe at the horse and gig and
strangeness of her position wore off, and she began to talk of her